Having your own raised bed is fun even in a small space – and this project can be easily implemented using an old wine crate. The boxes are just the right size for balconies, are robust and at the same time have a rustic, vintage look. Whether herbs, lettuce or colorful flowers – the little green paradise grows right in front of your door in a planted wine box.

Materials for your wine crate raised bed

Materials:

• 1-2 sturdy wooden wine boxes
• Pond liner or garden fleece
• Stapler or small nails
• Expanded clay or gravel as drainage
• Potting soil 🛒
• Herb, vegetable or flower seeds
• Optional: small wooden blocks or rolls for support

And so the wine crate becomes a raised bed

Step 1: Prepare the box

First you check the wine box: you can fix any loose boards with nails or wood glue. If the box is to have direct contact with the floor, it is worth screwing small blocks or feet underneath. This allows excess water to drain away better and the wood lasts longer.

Step 2: Insert foil or fleece

So that the earth doesn’t fall through the cracks later and the wood doesn’t stay permanently damp, line the box with pond liner or garden fleece. Attach the material to the inside walls of the box using a staple gun or small nails. You can poke a few small holes in the foil at the bottom so that water can drain out easily.

Step 3: Fill in drainage and soil

Fill in a layer of expanded clay or gravel to avoid waterlogging. Place potting soil on top and press it down lightly. This creates the perfect base for your plants.

Step 4: Insert plants

Now the box is ready for herbs, vegetables or flowers. Kitchen herbs such as basil, thyme, parsley or mint are particularly suitable. Lettuce or radishes also grow well in a wine crate. If you like it colorful, you can also add a few flowering plants that not only look beautiful but also attract insects.

Reading tips: Here we’ll show you how to make a chic boho wall hanging for your balcony. And this is how you pour a nice lemon candle for warm balcony evenings.

Step 5: Location and Care

Place your wine box in a sunny to partially shaded spot on the balcony. Be sure to water regularly as small raised beds dry out more quickly than large garden beds. A little liquid fertilizer every now and then ensures strong growth.

Using a wine crate as a raised bed not only represents upcycling, but also a particularly space-saving form of gardening. And the best thing: the boxes can even be stacked or arranged next to each other and transform the balcony into a small green oasis in no time.